Ward officer caught taking bribe from vada pav seller

The Thane unit of Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday caught red-handed a Mira-Bhayender Municipal Corporation ward officer while allegedly accepting a bribe from a vada pav seller.

During a search of his house, valuables and property documents collectively worth over Rs 1 crore were found. The officer was arrested.

Dilip Jagdale (52), an officer in ward number 6 presently under suspension for not initiating action against illegal construction, had been demanding Rs 1 lakh as bribe from a vada pav seller.

He was caught while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 in a hotel near Rassaz Mall, Mira Road, at around 5.10 pm.

Under the guidance of additional commissioner Datta Karale, an ACB team led by Anjalli Andhalle conducted a house search of Jagdale’s rooms 501 and 502 in Gaurav Apartment near Venkyat Hall, Bhayender., in which valuables worth Rs 4,870,950 were recovered, including gold ornaments worth Rs 3,761,350, silver worth Rs 24,600 and Rs 706,400 in cash.